Improvement in coal-oil and other lamps



PATENT OFFICE.

' RUFUS S. MERRILL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

'IMPRQVEMENT IN COAL-OIL AND OTHER LAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,460, dated June 3, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Bonus S. MERRILL, of the cityof Lynn, Tin the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Fountain- Reservoir Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, of my improved lamp.

The object of my invention is to so construct, arrange, and combine the parts of a lamp burning oil or other liquid fatty substance that the supply of oil to the wick shall be effectedwit-h uniform regularity andautomatically without resorting to any mechanical devices or means especially designed to efiect the object in view. Simplicity of construction and cheapness in the manufacture are therefore the main objects contemplated, and they are accomplished by combining with a reservoir to contain the oil to be burned with a tube and burner, the latter being arranged in relation to the former so that the distance between the burning part of the wick and the surface of the oil shall be maintained by hydrostatic pressure constant, or nearly so, thereby supplying the fiame with a uniform quantity of oil while the lamp is in action.

I In the drawings, A represents the fountainreservoir to the lamp. It is here shown to consist in a semi-cylindrical vessel united with or secured against a back plate, 13, which, being perforated at 0, allows of the hanging of the reservoir and lamp against the wall, and may thus be used advantageously in factories or workshops. From the lower part of the reservoir, andon the side opposite to the plate D, projects a tube, D, to the end of which is secured an ordinary burner, E. The forward end of the tube uniting the burner with the lamp is provided with a partition, F, having in its center, or thereabout, an orifice, G, through which the oil from the reservoir may flow into the cup H of the burner E. The latter, as shown inthe drawings hereto annexed, is an ordinary coaloil burner consisting of the usual air-holes, K K K, and of a wicktube, deflector, and chimney-holder. The wick'tubeI isarranged in relation to the orifice Gin the partition F in such relation. or at such elevation in relation to a level line coinciding with the top of the orifice that the capillarity of the wick shall with a constant force supply the flame at the top of the wick-tube.

The operation of the lamp will be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings. To enable, however, others intelligently to use my improved lamp,lshall now proceed to describe its modus operandt.

In order to fill the lamp, it is placed in a position so that the reservoir shall come under the burner. The spout L is thus broughtinto a vertical and most convenient position for filling the lamp. The oil is now poured into the reservoir A until it is full, or nearly so. The spout is now tightly corked or otherwise hermetically closed and the reservoir is tipped to assume its position when in use. The liquid mass in the reservoir will of course flow through the tube D into the cup H to such a height in said cup as will produce a column, which, with its superincumbent weight of atmospheric air, shall be in equilibrium with the column of liquid in the reservoir. The rela tive dimensions of the reservoir,tube, and on p are such that the liquid will rise above the orifice G, yet not quite reach the wick-tube. By this arrangement the lamp may be moved from one place to another without producing flickering or fluctuations of light. The level of the oil will necessarily sink in the said cup as it is being consumed by the flame when thelamp is in action. As soon as the level of the oil falls below the top of the orifice G in the partition F an air-bubble will enter the air-reservoir,thereby establishing the equilibrium between the long and short columns, and will at once cause the rise of the oil in the cup. Thus the oil is maintained at a level as nearly constant as possible in relation to the burning part of the wick, which is at such elevation from the surface of the oil as to bring it under the action of the force of capillarity of the wick.

Instead of using a cook or other device for closing the spout-orifice L, a tube or pipe extending downwardly toward the bottom of the reservoir may be used. The oil is poured into the reservoir through the spout and pipe and issues at the lower extremity of the latter. By then inverting the position of the reservoir, so as to assume its vertieality, the orifice of the tube will be closed automatically by the oil in the reservoir. Again, instead of either or both the spout and tube, a small tube with funnel-shaped orifice may be used in the burner-cup. This tube, unless provided with a closing valve or cock, should be located at a level higher than that of the oil in the cup when the lamp is in operative condition. The filling of the lamp is then efi'ected in the same manner as when the spout is applied to the reservoir,and the operation is substantially the same.

Having thus described my invcntion,I shall state my claim as follows:

The combination of an oil reservoir and burner under thearrangement herein set forth,

so that the burning part of the wick shall be constantly supplied with oil automatically, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

RUFUS S. MERRILL;

Witnesses:

A. E. BLooD, JAMES S. PARROTT. 

